PM calls for early negotiations on Vietnam-Turkey free trade deal

By Tri Duc
Wed, November 29, 2023 | 8:01 pm GMT+7

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for early negotiations on a Vietnam-Turkey free trade agreement (FTA) at a Wednesday meeting with Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat in Ankara.

Chinh also suggested relevant agencies of the two countries host the eighth meeting of the inter-government committee in Ankara in 2024, conduct more trade-investment promotion events, open up the markets for more exports of key products, and remove anti-dumping duties.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat at a meeting in Ankara on November 29, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese government's news portal.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat at a meeting in Ankara on November 29, 2023. Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese government's news portal.

In reply, the Turkish minister said he appreciated the visit of PM Chinh, also a commemoration of 45 years of the bilateral partnership (1978-2023). He affirmed Vietnam is a key economic partner of Turkey in the Asia-Pacific and many Turkish businesses are seeking opportunities in the Vietnamese market, especially in sectors of construction, industrial production, and consumer goods.

A delegation of Turkish businesses is set to visit Vietnam next year, he added.

As of November 20, Vietnam had 38,844 valid FDI projects with total registered capital of $462.4 billion, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Total disbursement reached $294.2 billion, or 63.6% of the registered capital. With 36 licensed projects and registered capital of $974.3 million, Turkey ranked 26th in terms of value.

In August, a consortium led by Turkish conglomerate IC Ictas won the VND35 trillion ($1.49 billion) bidding package to build the terminal for the mega Long Thanh International Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai. State-run Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the project investor, started construction on the terminal at the end of August and plans to complete it in late November 2026.

In the first 10 months of this year, Vietnam earned $1.52 billion from exporting goods to Turkey, up 16% year-on-year, according to customs data.

The Southeast Asian country spent $369 billion on importing goods from the Middle East nation, up 4.5% year-on-year. As a result, Vietnam reaped a trade surplus of $1.15 billion with Turkey in the period.

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Sugar cane output of world's second-largest exporter Thailand falls sharply due to drought

Sugar cane output of world's second-largest exporter Thailand falls sharply due to drought

Thailand's sugar cane output declined in the 2023-24 crop because of severe drought, according to the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB).

Southeast Asia - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 10:13 pm GMT+7

Malaysia attaches importance to high-quality investments, start-ups

Malaysia attaches importance to high-quality investments, start-ups

Six Malaysian ministers on Monday made a joint commitment to ensure a coherent approach to achieve the goal of the Kuala Lumpur 20 Summit 2024 (KL20 Summit 2024) to make Malaysia a vibrant hub for startups and high-quality investments.

Southeast Asia - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 10:10 pm GMT+7

Thailand expects to export 1 million tonnes of durian this year

Thailand expects to export 1 million tonnes of durian this year

Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated THB130 billion ($3.53 billion) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.

Southeast Asia - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 10:09 pm GMT+7

Thailand urged to increase proportion of renewable power generation

Thailand urged to increase proportion of renewable power generation

The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).

Southeast Asia - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 10:07 pm GMT+7

Malaysia sees increased number of young millionaires

Malaysia sees increased number of young millionaires

The number of young millionaires in Malaysia is on the rise, with a 75% increase in millionaires aged 30 and under recorded in 2022.

Southeast Asia - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 10:07 pm GMT+7

Thai government targets 20 million jobs from 'soft power' project

Thai government targets 20 million jobs from 'soft power' project

The Thai government will kick off its One Family One Soft Power (OFOS) project in June, aiming to create 20 million jobs with a minimum annual salary of THB200,000 (about $5,400), said a senior official.

Southeast Asia - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 10:05 pm GMT+7

Seven dead in northern Vietnam cement company accident

Seven dead in northern Vietnam cement company accident

A serious occupational accident occurred at Yen Bai Cement & Minerals Joint-Stock Company in Yen Bai province on Monday, killing seven people.

Society - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 7:04 pm GMT+7

Semiconductor sector to create 200,000 jobs, contribute $14 bln to Vietnam economy

Semiconductor sector to create 200,000 jobs, contribute $14 bln to Vietnam economy

Vietnam’s semiconductor sector can employ 15,000 designers, 35,000 factory engineers and 154,000 indirect workers by 2030, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong.

Industries - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 6:06 pm GMT+7

Vietnam exchange rate pressures to ease gradually: economist

Vietnam exchange rate pressures to ease gradually: economist

Vietnam will see exchange rate pressures ease gradually as the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) gets set to reduce interest rates and the gold market becomes more stable, said economist Can Van Luc.

Banking - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 5:57 pm GMT+7

Luxury boom drives competition for prime retail space in HCMC

Luxury boom drives competition for prime retail space in HCMC

Demand for luxury retail in Ho Chi Minh City has seen exponential growth, driven by positive growth momentum and the rise in the city's wealthy customer base, said Savills Vietnam analysts.

Real Estate - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 5:23 pm GMT+7

VN-Index up 15 points after losing over 100 points last week

VN-Index up 15 points after losing over 100 points last week

Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index gained 15.37 points, or 1.31%, to 1,190.22 on Monday, after losing more than 100 points last week, thanks to the rallies of securities and banking stocks.

Finance - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 4:34 pm GMT+7

No offshore wind projects in Vietnam until 2028: global council

No offshore wind projects in Vietnam until 2028: global council

“No real offshore wind projects are likely to be built in Vietnam until the end of 2024-2028 period,” says the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

Energy - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 3:40 pm GMT+7

Work on final sub-project for eastern wing of North-South Expressway kicks off

Work on final sub-project for eastern wing of North-South Expressway kicks off

Construction of the Huu Nghi-Chi Lang Expressway, the final sub-project for the eastern wing of the giant North-South Expressway project, commenced on Sunday in the northern border province of Lang Son.

Infrastructure - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 2:40 pm GMT+7

Deputy head of Vietnam's parliament office detained for power abuse

Deputy head of Vietnam's parliament office detained for power abuse

Pham Thai Ha, deputy head of Vietnam's National Assembly Office and assistant to the parliament's Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, has been arrested for abusing positions and power to influence others for personal gains.

Politics - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 1:10 pm GMT+7

Vietnam central bank cancels first gold auction in 11 years

Vietnam central bank cancels first gold auction in 11 years

Vietnam's central bank has canceled a gold auction due to take place at 10 a.m. Monday, which would have been the first after an 11-year hiatus.

Banking - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 10:57 am GMT+7

Margin lending at Vietnam brokers hits new high, room remains ample

Margin lending at Vietnam brokers hits new high, room remains ample

Outstanding margin loans at brokerage houses in Vietnam had risen to a record high of an estimated VND195 trillion ($7.66 billion) at the end of March.

Finance - Mon, April 22, 2024 | 10:44 am GMT+7